“Requesting then receiving a registration transfer links you to your genetics supplier and to the breed association, which provides information, programs and services to help you make the most of your seedstock purchases,” said Mike Horvath, director of commercial marketing for the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF).

“Registration transfers get commercial producers’ names into the database so NALF can best assist them in merchandising calves and fully realizing value-added opportunities to maximize net returns,” Horvath explained.

“It pays to seal the deal by requesting transfers,” he added. “Profitable calf crops are the result of known, superior genetics, and reputation is important to buyers looking for quality feeder calves and replacement females. Receiving registration papers for purchased seedstock solidifies your reputation as a professional cattle producer who is committed to genetic improvement.”

There is no better way to document superior genetics than to buy registered seedstock and request registration transfers. Only registered seedstock animals (whether fullbloods, purebreds or hybrids) have reliable genetic and performance information available from their registry organizations. Only registered seedstock have pedigree information officially documented to help manage inbreeding, hybrid vigor (heterosis) and genetic defects.

Bob Hough, Ph.D., executive vice president at NALF, explained one of the reasons why that is significant.

“When daughters of a sire or group of sires are retained and bred, documented pedigrees allow you to avoid inbreeding and, preferably, generate maternal heterosis,” he said. “Inbreeding often results in declined reproductive fitness, while direct and maternal heterosis are associated favorably and significantly with greater lifetime reproductive efficiency, longevity and pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed.”

Hence, having past and current sires’ pedigrees at hand provides economically meaningful insight when selecting bulls that will go back on retained replacements.

Horvath noted that cattle producers are entitled to have the official registration certificates transferred when they buy seedstock.

“If you did not insist on a transfer in the past, contact your seedstock supplier today and ask to begin the process,” he said. “The next time you purchase a registered animal, be sure to ask the seller to transfer the papers.”

Astute cattle producers know registration certificates add confidence and peace of mind to their seedstock purchases through documented breed composition, sire and dam pedigrees (which offer the ability to check for carriers of genetic defects), breeder contact information, performance measures and genetic predictions. To illustrate, NALF estimates economic merit for 14 traits based on one of the most comprehensive genetic evaluation programs in the beef industry.

Associations market their breeds to all industry segments; offer performance and commercial programs; conduct applied research; and share timely information about selection, management and merchandising. NALF accomplishes many of those objectives via its website (www.nalf.org), with such online tools as the Sire Selector, EPD and pedigree lookup, and member locator. Registrations and transfers make all of that possible.